Inflation calculator
Inflation changes what a number means. Enter an amount and an average rate to see the nominal sum you would need later, and how much purchasing power a fixed sum loses.
USD
%
years
Amount needed later$13,439
- What it will be worth
- $7,441
- Purchasing power lost
- $2,559
- Lost as a percentage
- 25.6 %
- Price multiplier
- 1.344
The formula
Future nominal amount = A · (1 + r)^n. Purchasing power of a fixed sum = A / (1 + r)^n, with r the average annual rate and n the number of years.
Worked example
10,000 at 3% for 10 years: you would need 13,439 to buy the same basket, and 10,000 left in a drawer would buy what 7,441 buys today.
How to use it
- 1Use a long-run average rate, not last month's headline figure.
- 2For historical values, a national price index is more accurate than a constant rate.
- 3Compare the result with the return on your savings to see if you are ahead.
Questions people ask
Is this an official price index?
No. It applies one constant rate, which is right for projections. For past values, use the consumer price index published by your national statistics office.
Why does a small rate matter so much?
Because it compounds. At 3%, prices double in roughly 24 years; at 5%, in about 14.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-20